Justice and Public Safety

IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES

JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

February 6, 2008

MEETING MINUTES - Draft

COMMITTEE ATTENDEES IAC MEMBERS Dane Watkins, Chair, Bonneville Doug Hughes, Twin Falls Chris Smith, Vice Chair, Canyon Phil Steen, Lewis Barbara Breedlove, Custer Perry Larson, Lewis Sharon Widner, Washington Connie Cruser, Elmore Sara Staub, Bingham Dallan Nalder, Oneida Kristina Glascock, Twin Falls Terry Kramer, Twin Falls Debbie Kauffman, Twin Falls Allyn May, Clark Denise Gill, Gooding Ralph Robison, Madison Ron Smith, Boundary Kevin Halverson, Minidoka Jim Higens, Cassia Ron Funk, Power Paul Christensen, Cassia Ron Chapman, Camas Paul Woods, Ada GUESTS IAC STAFF Larry Callicut, IDJC Sharon Burke Jason Stone, IDJC Bill Lasley, IDJC Scott Ronan, ISC Brent Reinke, DOC

I. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Dane Watkins, Chair, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members and guests. The committee reviewed the minutes from the September 2007 Meeting.

MOTION: The September Meeting Minutes were approved on a motion from Sara Staub, seconded by Debbie Kauffman.

II. COMMITTEE POLICY AND GOALS

Sharon Burke reported that the IAC Board asks that each committee review their policies and goals on a regular basis. Each committee member should read through the materials and provide any suggestions for revision. Sharon will update the documents for review at the next meeting.

Justice and Public Safety Committee February 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES

III. OFFICE OF DRUG POLICY – INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Sharon Burke reported that IAC has representation on the Interagency Committee on Substance Abuse (ICSA). ICSA is comprised of members from agencies who are involved in substance abuse treatment. Representatives from Department of Health and Welfare, Department of Juvenile Corrections, Department of Correction, Idaho State Police, Department of Education and others meet monthly and are directed by Debbie Field, Office of Drug Policy.

Sharon reported that the GAIN assessment tool was adopted statewide by the Office of Drug Policy in 2007. GAIN is a standard assessment tool for substance use disorder and all state-funded substance abuse treatment must begin with a GAIN assessment.

Dane Watkins asked Scott Ronan, Idaho Supreme Court, to discuss the experience with Drug Courts. The courts recently completed a two year study on DUI Courts. The results showed that the recidivism for the treatment group was 19% compared to 37% for the comparison group.

Larry Callicutt, DJC, reported that currently there is $4 million dollars available for adolescent treatment. Paul Woods asked about the obstacles to accessing these funds. Larry explained that there is a lack of capacity in the system and probation departments are not accustomed to relying on the system for their probationers. Idaho Code 20-520(i) is one statutory avenue to treatment and allows judges to order assessment and treatment of juveniles. BPA serves as the gatekeeper for the system at this time. A Request For Proposal has just been issued and a provider will be chosen in the next month.

Sharon Widner asked why the data was not available for the ODP budget request to the Governor and if the system will be improved in the coming year. Bill Lasley reported that the GAIN implementation will enhance data collection. Sharon Burke stated that the RFP process identified data gaps and BPA sought to assist with these gaps in the final months. Terry Kramer asked if GAIN information will be proprietary. Director Brent Reinke, DOC, stated that the data from GAIN will be available statewide.

IV. DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS UPDATE

Larry Callicutt, Executive Director, Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, updated the committee on the work of the department. The Department currently has 408 juveniles in custody. Initial predictions of custody levels were over 750 juveniles. The department has a range of juveniles in custody including those juveniles with a blended sentence which allows treatment from the juvenile system prior to serving in the adult system. The offender is required to report to the court every 2 months to monitor progress.

The Department continues to seek methods to improve the system. Re-entry resources are critical for this population. Many juveniles return to their community and need housing, employment, treatment and other re-entry services.

Through POST and the Juvenile Training Council, currently detention and probation officers attend academies and earn certification. The juvenile system learned from sheriffs and conduct detention center reviews similar to the jail reviews. In addition, several years ago the department established minimum standards for probation. Sample policies and procedures have been developed and a peer review procedure is in the process of being developed for probation departments.

Director Callicutt requested input from the committee on gaps or ideas for system improvements. These adolescents come from your communities and return to your communities. DJC needs your input on how to improve the system.

V. IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION UPDATE

Brent Reinke, Executive Director Department of Correction and Chair of the Criminal Justice Commission, joined the group to provide an update on the adult offender population and programs.

The Criminal Justice Commission is a partnership of criminal justice agencies with a goal to reduce the rate of growth of the corrections population and reduce crime in Idaho.

Director Reinke distributed a briefing sheet on the Adam Walsh Act. The Act was adopted several years ago on the federal level and the Criminal Justice Commission is working to bring Idaho in to compliance with the Act. Many aspects of the Act are difficult to implement including the sex offender registry requirements. One concern is that a 14 year old as level 3 offender serves on registry for life.

Director Reinke also distributed a brochure for the IdahoVine Hotline. The hotline is a free automated hotline that provides information to victims on offender status and release dates.

The IDOC Annual Report for 2007 was recently published and provides an excellent overview and update on each division of the Department. The report is also available on the DOC website.

The Department of Correction has taken the moniker of a “black hat” agency to boost employee morale and provide a marketing tool.

Director Reinke described the flow that can occur between juvenile justice, misdemeanor probation and the Department of Correction. It is critical that the state change the way we do business and stop the flow rather than building more prisons. The Department of Correction is working to assist the build up of misdemeanor probation services by

Justice and Public Safety Committee February 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES developing a pilot project with 6 to 8 counties. Felony Probation Officers will share technical expertise, provide training opportunities and relieve the caseloads by handling offenders under joint supervision.

Paul Woods, Ada County Commissioner, reported that the county has experienced a dramatic increase in the need for juvenile sex offender treatment. Who pays for these increased costs? Counties struggle with costs in conjunction with drug court, juvenile courts and other requirements while budgeting under the constraint of a 3% cap. In addition, Paul commented that the co-occurring diagnosis is a huge issue and prevents effective treatment for many offenders.

VI. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Misdemeanor Probation Legislation: The Shared Employee Committee, comprised of representatives from the Counties and Courts, have developed a proposal to create a statutory framework for misdemeanor probation officers. In addition, the bill would tie the supervision fee to the felony fee resulting in an increase from $35/month to $50/month.

911 Fee Increase: Sheriff Smith urged the committee to work in support of this legislation. The bill would increase the 911 fee up to $1.25 with 25 cents of the fee being utilized as a grant funding source for rural counties. This source is critical to get many of our remote counties to a level where they can provide 911 communication to the many tourists who visit.

Sheriff Qualifications: The bill would disallow those individuals with a felony conviction on their record to run for sheriff and set training recommendations for the office.

VII. OTHER BUSINESS

Sheriff Steen, Lewis County, described his officers’ use of “my space” to monitor juvenile activity in his county. A number of officers have “my space” accounts and are able to determine the location of parties as well as those youth involved in criminal activity from discussions on the site.

Paul Woods, Ada County Commissioner, reported that he serves with Commissioner Cruser, Elmore County, on the Region 4 Mental Health Board. It is often difficult to get participation from the Health and Welfare Representatives. Director Reinke asked Paul to contact the Department of Correction in advance of the next meeting and he will insure a staff member is present.

Commissioner Cruser asked about the group’s experience with Youth Courts. Many counties currently have some form of Youth or Truancy Court. It was suggested that

Commissioner Cruser talk to her judge about developing a Youth Court in Elmore County.

The Meeting adjourned at 11:15 AM.

Justice and Public Safety Committee February 2008 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5